Advertisement
Message Forums |
|
07/9/2009 at 6:53pm
Location: Cornwall Outfit: Autotrail Scout
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 25/2/2008 Gold Member
Forum Posts: 336
Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
Site Reviews 2018: | 0 |
|
Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
Site Nights 2018: | 0 |
|
Quote: Originally posted by LegsDownKettleOn on 07/9/2009
There was a thread on here a few years ago where someone was defending this sort of behaviour because it meant the roads were less conjested. He had a theory that the more cars you could get on a mile of road travelling at a given speed meant the roads were less conjested.
Unfortunately, the authorities implicitly use this theory on the M25, M42, and anywhere else they've put in variable speed limits. The stated goal is to smooth traffic flow by restricting the speed so that everyone travels at the same speed. However, as soon as that happens the gaps start to close and you usually see mile after mile of cars all doing 40, 50, or whatever the current limit is with a car-length or less between each other. The crazy thing is that when everyone obeys the two-second rule, the faster the speed the higher the capacity (i.e. the more vehicles per minute will pass a fixed point), and so reducing the speed limit can only worsen congestion in theory. However, the authorities know the gaps will close and rely on that happening.
As with all systems susceptible to failure, the longer you manage to put off that failure the more catastrophic the eventual failure is. This is why (IMO) whenever there's a crash in an active variable speed limit section it's almost always a multi-vehicle pile-up.
Geoff
|
|
|
4277 Visitors online !
Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker - Recommend to Friend - Add a Missing Campsite
[Message Forums]
[Caravan Sites & Camping]
[Company Listings]
[Features / Advice]
[Virtual Brochure]
[Shop!]
[Reception]
[Competitions]
[Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]
[Event Diary]
[Contact Us]
[Tent Reviews]
Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024
|
Advertisement
|
|
|